Princess Leonor has added another remarkable achievement to her growing military record after successfully completing parachute training and becoming the first member of the Spanish Royal Family to qualify as a paratrooper.
New footage released by the Spanish royal household shows the 20-year-old heir to the throne taking part in a demanding training course at the Méndez Parada Military Parachuting School at Alcantarilla Air Base in Murcia.
The video captures Leonor preparing for the jump, descending a training zipline while wearing full parachute equipment and later leaping from an aircraft as part of the qualification process.
The Princess of Asturias completed the same training undertaken by members of Spain’s armed forces, earning both a diploma and the coveted paratrooper badge upon completion.
Photographs released by the royal household show Leonor dressed in camouflage uniform and a red helmet as she trained alongside 50 fellow cadets from the General Air and Space Academy.
As part of the course, the future queen completed multiple jumps, including a night-time parachute exercise.
The achievement marks another milestone in Leonor’s extensive military education programme, which began in 2023. The three-year training scheme has seen her serve with the army, navy and air force as she prepares for her future role as Spain’s monarch.
Under Spain’s constitution, the sovereign serves as commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces, making military training an important part of preparations for the throne.
Leonor’s military education has attracted significant public attention in Spain, with many drawing comparisons to the training undertaken by her father, King Felipe VI, before he became king.
The latest qualification also makes royal history, with Leonor becoming the first member of the Spanish Royal Family to earn paratrooper status.
Her military programme is due to conclude later this year. After completing her service training, the princess is expected to begin a degree in political science at Madrid’s Carlos III University while continuing to undertake royal duties.
The daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia has increasingly stepped into the public spotlight in recent years as preparations continue for her eventual accession to the Spanish throne.
